“Is It Your First Time Here?”
My most recent visit to Good Morning America marks 14 times that I have entered the set; from sitting front and center, on the side lines, and behind the scenes. At this point, I know the routine of what and how the show is run and have watched the hosts time and time again deliver top hitting news, interact with their guests, and interview some of the most famous celebrities known. The more I’ve attended, the more my passion for the industry increases and my desire to sit behind the anchor desk becomes more vivid. However, to get to one’s end goal, it’s not always about what you know, it’s who you know. So, I’ve utilized my reoccurring attendance to not just gain a better understand of the broadcast side of things and pretend to live out my dream, but to meet the people who could potentially lead me to where I plan on being one day and have learned to network in a way that is not your typical status quo routine of doing so.
I’ve gone to GMA twice in the last couple of weeks and based on my recent visit, there really is something to be said about following up with people. Let’s start with the first of the two times… I was going to see Emilia Clarke who I am a huge fan of in general thanks to Me Before You (not Game of Thrones, I know..shocker!), but even with the intention of going to see her, what happened outside of that was even more intriguing to me. When I arrived, the security guard outside the entrance who has recognized me before, Tim, decided to not even joke around with his usual “you look familiar” line, but instead chat me up as soon as I arrived like we were long time friends. It was a nice turn of events from our usual banter and became one of the first connections I made outside of the studio all from just coming to see the show. Not long after our talk, as I stood in line to wait until they were ready for us to come inside, another security guard who I have seen many times prior decided to walk over and initiate a conversation with the phrase “is it your first time here?” Trying to be friendly, I said no and began my typical elevator pitch of how long I have been coming for, why I like to come, and what I am hoping to do career wise within the business. I truthfully don’t remember exactly what I said, but whatever it was interested him enough to ask for my info and to connect later. And just like that, I had another contact!
When I got into the studio, I went through the usual motion of putting my stuff away and snagging a seat right in front so I could view all the action. In between takes of Emilia being the cutest human as ever and Rachel Hollis preaching about resolutions, I did what I usually do which is intensely observe my surroundings, with the props team swiftly changing sets during commercial breaks and the camera men grazing along the sides to get the next angle. One of them ended up standing by me for one of the segments, who I have yet to talk to, and decided to change the narrative by looking his direction and smiling. To my pleasant surprise, he responded immediately with a “hi, how are you?”, followed by a “is it your first time here?” Now was my chance to sell my elevator pitch, which I did as fast as possible before the commercial break was over and he had to start filming again. Before I knew it, the convo ended with the line, “let me give you my card and we can chat.” I was honestly shocked. Simply by being friendly and putting the energy out there, I had made not one, not two, but three connections in just ONE visit.
The show wrapped, and as promised, the camera man gave me his card and told me to touch base with him once I left the studio. I agreed to his request, and following in his gesture, the two security guards did the same. I ended up with three new familiar faces and three new contacts who I couldn’t wait to connect with. But then, I left. So It was now up to me. I could either take the experience as it was or try and follow up with the people I had met, and with that in mind, I decided to not just email them, but show up two weeks later to see them again in person.
To start, I gave one of my new contacts a shot by asking him to be put my friend, Lucy and I on the list for the next upcoming show. He responded rather quickly as he was delighted to hear from me and before I knew it, my friend and I were back outside the GMA studio waiting to head indoors. Not even getting out a simple “hello” when I arrived, the security guard blurts “THERE SHE IS!” and comes over to give me a hug. He asked Lucy and I if we wanted to go indoors for the first hour which we both agreed to immediately and as we walk inside, Tim looked over at me and said, “I don’t know how you don’t have your own badge by now but well work on that”. Lucy and I responded by laughing out loud, more or so because we couldn’t agree more and in my eyes, it only solidified the connection we had made.
As I’ve mentioned before, the first hour is more serious news, and the area is filled strictly with the crew and the anchors, which makes it a much more low key environment. It’s honestly a nice change of pace compared to the hyped-up set that takes place the second hour. Lucy and I were able to just chill and observe everything without having to be fully alert and reactive. As we sat there, I noticed a camera man that I met a while back, prior to the one I had met two weeks before. I truly believe there is always a right place and time, and given he didn’t recognize me right away since it had been some time, I decided to not say anything until I had the proper chance to follow up. In the meantime, Lucy and I took some pics, met more of the crew, and in all honestly, just took in our surroundings until it was time to head upstairs.
As we started to walk over to our seats, I ran into the other security guard that I had exchanged my info with. It took him a second to recognize me, but when he did, I got so giddy seeing him remember who I am and how he was just as eager to speak to me then as he was before. We bantered back and forth until Lucy and I proceeded to get ready for the taping. Mark Ruffalo was the guest that day, who was very funny and down to earth in person. I wish I could say I had a moment to speak with Mark, but as soon as the interview ended, he was whisked away to the greenroom backstage. The show wrapped and as Lucy and I started to head out to grab our things, I saw the camera man from downstairs waiting on the side. He asked for a pen and a piece of paper so this time around he could give me his info to ensure we connected post show. I left the conversation with a glisten of hope and excitement in my eyes as I knew if I had not come back, there was a good chance we would have never reconnected. Exiting the studio, I thanked Tim for letting me to come back and he responded with how he couldn’t wait for me to return and assumed it wouldn’t be very long before I did. I laughed knowing he was joking, but in all honestly… he wasn’t wrong!
